Iraq asks Jakarta to monitor weapons inspections

UN weapons inspectors could return to Iraq within weeks

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- In a personal request from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Baghdad has requested Indonesia form a "companion team" to monitor U.N. weapons inspectors that may soon begin work in the country.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that the request was conveyed in a meeting between President Megawati and Iraqi Minister for Higher Education Humam Abudul-Khaleq Abdul Ghafur.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said Indonesia was considering the request but would require more information before making a decision.

Indonesia has said it supports Iraq's stand on weapons inspections and has cautioned the United States not to take unilateral actions against Iraq.

Iraq has agreed to let U.N. weapons inspectors resume their mission to locate and destroy any weapons of mass destruction in the country in an attempt to avert threatened U.S. military strikes.

But Washington is determined that a new Security Council mandate -- with the threat of force should Iraq fail to comply -- needs to be passed before inspectors fly to Baghdad, and has rejected the deal Iraq reached with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

Defiant

Iraq meanwhile has said the U.S. appears determined to launch military action against them in order to carry out Washington's stated policy of "regime change."

Speaking in Turkey Wednesday Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said there was no need for a new U.N. resolution to cover the operations of arms inspectors in Iraq, and vowed that his country would fight "very effectively" if attacked by the United States.

Aziz told a news conference: "This belligerent, war-mongering policy of the American administration is not a threat to Iraq only, it's a threat to the whole region."

He added: "The Americans are pushing for a belligerent, new resolution which reveals their real intentions.

"I have always said that the question of weapons of mass destruction raised by the United States and Britain is a pretext ... to justify the unjustifiable aggression on Iraq.

"If they were genuine in their concern, they should be happy that Iraq and Mr. Blix have reached an agreement for the resumption of inspections."

The U.S. and Britain are seeking a tough new resolution that demands that Iraq open all parts of its territory to weapons inspections or face military action.

--- CNN Correspondent Atika Shubert contributed to this report

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